Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

"So…the King would assess Alex before giving his permission?" Amanda asked in a bit of surprise as she and Celestria sat by side and continued to have breakfast.

In the palace only Amanda was the person with whom Celestria could talk about this, so she sought out her friend and shared her dilemma.

"Yes…but I don't know how he will test him." Celestria continued to stab the piece of meat with her head supported by her other hand.

There was clear apprehension in her voice and Amanda could understand it.

It is indeed quite a difficult task for a girl's father to accept their child's lover.

Heaving a sigh, Amanda assured her, "What are you scared about? Alex is one of the strongest warriors in the human realm. Someone with a bright future. I doubt your father could have found someone like him."

Celestria smiled; she liked it when someone praised Alex.

However, her smile soon froze when she heard Amanda adding, "But Cela, have you even asked Alex whether he wants to get married this soon?"

Although their relationship has improved recently, Amanda believes the new version of Alex is ambition-driven. He has a specific goal in his mind which he wants to reach.

Unlike in the past, when Alex's whole world revolves around Celestria, the new him is more focused on his ambition and gaining more strength.

And amidst all that, Amanda doubts if he would readily agree to marry Celestria out of the blue.

All the color from the Princess' face vanished when she heard that.

She was only worrying about her parents until now, however, now that she thinks about it, Alex hasn't even reciprocated her feelings….

Forget about making her, his wife, Celestria isn't even his girlfriend yet!!!

'Oh my god…oh my god…what should I do?!' Covering her head Celestria felt a huge crisis had befell on her.

Seeing that reaction Amanda already knew the whole case.

Heaving a sigh she said, "I have a way to help you."

Celestria instantly turned towards her friend and said, "Whatever the way is, just tell me. I need to get his agreement on this."

Amanda looked at the Princess seriously before asking, "Before that, tell me, Cela, are you a hundred percent certain that you want to spend the rest of your life with Alex?"

"There is no doubt in it, Amy. I cannot imagine a life without Alex and these feelings cannot have been any more certain."

Amanda continued to look in her eyes, trying to find even a bit of uncertainty…however, there was not even a single speck of doubt in her eyes.

She finally sighed and focused back on her food.

Just as Celestria was about to ask what she should do, Amanda said,

"Let's go shopping."

—-------**--------

The first person that came to his mind when the elf challenged them was Alex. However, Devon knew that he had to keep Alex hidden from plain sight as of now.

Alex is their strongest soldier, and to keep the Saintess safe he has to remain hidden until the very end.

The foolishness has been committed, and that cannot be changed.

"I am-" "No, Liam."

Just as the commander was about to step forward, Devon stopped him.

"We need you to command the battalion, and that elf seems well-versed in swordsmanship. The match-up can go in the best or the worst way." Devon reasoned and Liam, although reluctantly, had to agree.

Christopher was indifferently standing beside the carriage in which the Saintess rested.

Devon couldn't help but feel annoyed at how that jerk escalated things and now was pretending like he did nothing.

'Well, in a way, this is for the best.' The Grandmaster knew that if the elf attacked with all his force, they might not have any chance of defeating them.

Seeing Devon stepping forward, Alex didn't have a good feeling.

'This is not a battle he can win….' Although Devon was strong, probably the strongest mage among humans, the elf in question was also a seasoned warrior. And even if Devon does leave a scratch on the elf, it is highly unlikely he would let them go.

Regardless of what he thought the Grandmaster stepped forward and stood before the elf.

Tension rose on the battlefield. There was a lot at stake and to save from the disgrace of letting the most important figure of the nation get abducted, Devon has to give it his all today.

A heartbeat of silence passed, then the elf vanished.

Devon's hand shot up, and the air in front of him distorted, warping like heat waves. A sharp clang echoed as the elf's sword collided with the invisible barrier. He slid back, his feet skimming over the dirt like a shadow.

Devon's lips curled. With a sweeping motion, the gravity around the elf intensified. The ground groaned under the strain, cracks spidering outward.

The elf darted sideways, untouched. His movements were effortless, each step calculated to evade the crushing weight. He surged forward again, his blade a blur.

Alex narrowed his eyes as he saw the Grandmaster manipulating the Gravity with chantless magic and having such a firm grip over the spells that not even a moment of delay they were showing.

'I can exchange a fortune for even ten percent of such magic control….'

Back on the battlefield, Devon raised his arm, and the space around him thickened. The elf's strike slowed, his blade carving through invisible resistance. But before Devon could trap him, the elf twisted mid-swing, flowing like water around the distortion and bringing his sword down in a precise arc.

Devon ducked, the blade missing his head by a hair's breadth. He retaliated with a gravity pulse that rippled outward, aiming to knock the elf off his feet.

But the elf leaped, his movements defying the weight pressing against him. He flipped over Devon, landing behind him with feline grace.

'He is good…and fast….' Liam realized the difference between himself and the inhumane.

Despite not being aware of Devon's magic nature, the elf treads so effortlessly through those spells like he had been training with Devon for years.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

And that confidence the elf showed was enough evidence to show who had the upper hand.

Not to forget, the elven race is known for its magic. And this one…has yet to show his magical aspect...

A gasp rippled through the crowd as the elf's blade arced toward Devon's back.

Devon spun, his palm glowing with condensed gravitational force. He thrust it forward, and the elf was hurled backward by an invisible wave. Yet he landed on his feet, unharmed, his golden eyes unflinching.

"You're clever," the elf said, his voice smooth. "But cleverness can only delay the inevitable."

Devon scowled, spreading his arms wide. The ground beneath the elf buckled, a vortex of crushing gravity forming to swallow him whole.

The elf's eyes narrowed. In a single, fluid motion, he vaulted upward, his sword glowing faintly as he slashed through the spiraling force. The vortex collapsed, and the elf descended, his blade aimed directly at Devon.

Alex shared the shock that Devon had since what the elf showcased just now was, in plain and simple words, spell nullification.

Devon's shock cost him the battle as the elf planted the blade against his neck, stabbing it just enough to draw blood.

"Don't move or I will kill you now." The elf warned as he saw the magician trying to conjure another laughable spell of his.

The battle came to a pause with the tag of victory hanging down the elf's neck.

Devon raised his hands and accepted his defeat, making Christopher click his tongue.

"Useless…"

Glancing at Liam, he said, "Go and fight him, soldier. That's your duty."

Liam gritted his teeth. From how the Priests speak, it is evident that he doesn't value human life.

Liam's grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles white. He stepped forward, but before he could close the distance, something shifted.

The air around the battlefield shifted.

It began as a faint hum, a low vibration that grew stronger with each passing second. The soldiers stumbled backward, their weapons trembling in their hands.

Seeing the soldier stepping forward, the elf finally revealed his Soul Energy for the first time,

"Are you sure you want to fight me?"

The elf smiled faintly, golden eyes shimmering as he let his presence unfold. It was not an explosion of power but a steady, overwhelming tide. The soldiers around them fell silent, their breaths hitching. Even Liam, who had just been brimming with motivation, hesitated, his steps faltering.

The ground beneath his feet cracked without him lifting a finger. Blades of grass bent then blackened as oppressive energy radiated outward. The once-still air churned with an unnatural heat, yet an eerie cold crept into everyone's bones.

Liam clenched his greatsword tighter, his knuckles white. "What... is this?"

The elf raised a hand lazily, and the earth itself seemed to respond. The cracks spread outward, fissures snaking through the ground, but instead of crumbling, they glowed faintly with golden light, as though molten magic was rising to the surface.

"Don't mistake my restraint for weakness," the elf said, taking another step. Each movement sent another ripple through the field, shaking the weapons and armor of the soldiers.

Liam, at whom the presence was directed, fell to his knees, blood flowing down his ears and nose as he watched the anomaly with his eyes blood red.

And then, in an instant, the force disappeared as the elf grinned.

"Pfft-hahahaha!! Now you see, father, the sheer difference between our kinds?"

Christopher, who was barely holding himself on his feet, gritted his teeth in annoyance. He couldn't believe that the King sent such weaklings for their protection!

The elf turned around and confidently said, "I am giving you another chance. Send anyone and whoever leaves a scratch-*SHLINK*"

The soldiers on either side watched in a daze as the elf's feet continued to move, yet something was left behind from his body.

*THUD*

A very dull thud resounded as the head of the elf bounced on the ground, his eyes still crescent in glee as the elf's head rolled down to reach the kneeling Liam.

*Thud*

Another thud resounded as the headless body of the elf crumbled to the ground, a pool of blood now surrounding the inhumane.

The realization dawned upon everyone a moment later as they saw a shrouded figure sheathing his sword not so far away from the dead body.

Alex, who just used Moon Dance for the first time in action, heaved a long sigh as he muttered under his breath,

'Over-confident people are so easy to kill…'

—-------**--------

A/N:- Anti-climatic? Well, Moon Dance doesn't allow anyone to pick up his presence, even if the other party is an elf.

Thanks for reading.